Yasmin Benoit Explained

Yasmin Benoit
Birth Date:10 June 1996
Birth Place:Reading, Berkshire, England[1]
Hair Color:Black
Eye Color:Brown

Yasmin Benoit (born 10 June 1996) is a lingerie and alternative model in the United Kingdom. She is also an asexual and aromantic activist.[2] [3] [4]

Early life

Benoit is of Trinidadian, Jamaican, and Barbadian descent.[5] She attended Reading Girls' School and Padworth College.[6] At a young age, Benoit knew she was not interested in anyone sexually or romantically.[7] [8] She chose to attend an all-girls school to avoid conversations about sexual intercourse and relationships.[9] Benoit came across the term asexual in high school, but she did not identify with it until later in life.

Benoit has a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from St Mary's University, Twickenham and a Master of Science in Crime Science from University College London.[10] [11]

Modeling career

Benoit began modeling at age 16, focusing her efforts on alternative fashion despite the industry's emphasis of Eurocentric beauty standards. Her first modeling breakthrough was in 2015 with Scottish brand CRMC. She later modeled with Love Sick London, Dethkult Clothing, Seduced By Lilith, Kuki London, Pin Up Girl Clothing, and Teen Hearts.[12] [13]

In March 2018, Benoit collaborated with African-American-owned gothic fashion brand, Gothic Lamb.[14]

Activism

Benoit appeared in a BBC Three documentary on asexuality, but was critical of the experience, claiming the way the documentary framed asexuality was a misrepresentation.[15] She later appeared in a Sky News documentary on asexuality in February 2019.[16] Regarding her work as a lingerie model whilst being asexual, she told Sky News, "I'm literally here to show off the clothes and make it look good. I'm not trying to sell myself, I'm trying to sell a product."[17] This led her to found the hashtag #ThisIsWhatAsexualityLooksLike in 2019.[18]

Benoit wrote for publications including HuffPost UK and gave talks at events and universities, including the University of Cambridge, the UK Asexuality Conference in 2018, Reading Pride, King's College London in February 2019, and National Student Pride. In collaboration with Asexual Visibility and Education Network (AVEN), Budweiser, and Revolt London, Benoit hosted the first asexual-themed bar at Pride in London in 2019.[19] She joined the board of directors of AVEN that October.[20] In a December 2019 issue of Attitude titled "The Activists", Benoit became the first openly asexual woman to appear on the cover of a UK magazine.[21] [22]

In early 2020, Benoit worked with England Unwrapped to interview asexual people. The episode was originally broadcast on BBC Radio Berkshire and later published on BBC Sounds.[23] She co-founded International Asexuality Day (April 6) in 2021,[24] and in 2022, launched an asexual rights initiative—known as the Stonewall x Yasmin Benoit Ace Project—in partnership with Stonewall.[25] [26]

In June 2023, Benoit became the first openly asexual person to be a grand marshal for the NYC Pride March.[27]

Benoit was a consultant for the final season of Netflix's Sex Education. Following the release of the season, Benoit expressed disappointment that scenes involving an asexual character—especially those dealing with "the intersections of race, privilege, and acephobia"—had been cut or changed in editing.[28] [29]

Recognition

In 2018, Aislin Magazine wrote, in "the predominantly White alternative branch of modeling, [Benoit has] become one of the UK's most prominent Black alternative models."[30]

In 2021, Benoit was given an Attitude Pride Award.[31] In 2022, Benoit was nominated for a British LGBT Award in the category of Online Influencer.[32] In the same year, she was awarded Campaigner/Influencer of the Year by the Bank of London Rainbow Honours.[33]

Personal life

Benoit is asexual and aromantic.[34] She came out in a video on YouTube in 2017.[35]

Notes and References

  1. MEET: Yasmin. Ramona Magazine. Freya. Bennett. 29 March 2016. 23 September 2019. 25 September 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190925074459/https://ramonamag.com/2016/03/meet-yasmin-benoit/.
  2. Web site: BBC Radio 1 - Radio 1's Life Hacks Podcast, Asexuality with Yasmin Benoit. BBC. 12 November 2019 .
  3. Web site: Attitude becomes first magazine to put an asexual woman on the cover. 6 December 2019. The Independent.
  4. Web site: Kelleher . Patrick . This is what the world gets wrong about aromantic people . ThePinkNews.com . PinkNews . 23 June 2024 . 25 February 2022.
  5. Web site: Yasmin Benoit. 14 April 2020. English aromantic asexual via Trinidad, Jamaica & Barbados! Where are my Black aces at? What's your heritage?. 6 September 2020. Twitter.
  6. 'I just figured it would kick in': What it's really like to be asexual in Reading. Berkshire Live. Elizabeth. Mackley. 15 December 2019. 17 February 2020.
  7. News: Marsh. Stefanie. 8 August 2020. We're The Asexuals: Let's Not Get Physical. The Times. 14 March 2021.
  8. Web site: Boyle. Samuel. 26 October 2020. England Unwrapped - Me and my Asexuality. 14 March 2021. BBC Sounds.
  9. News: Pantony. Ali. 19 February 2021. People Think I Must be Unlovable, Fussy or Mentally Ill. Here's What it Really Means to be Asexual and Aromantic. Glamour. 14 March 2021.
  10. Web site: Lingerie model, 23, says she's never felt sexual attraction to anyone. Mirror. Chris. Jaffray. 11 August 2019. 23 September 2019.
  11. Web site: This is What Asexual Looks Like. Qwear. Benoit. Yasmin. 5 March 2019. 23 September 2019.
  12. Web site: Black alternative model Yasmin Benoit fights her way into the industry. Afropunk. 12 September 2017. 23 September 2019.
  13. Web site: An interview with black alternative UK model and activist Yasmin Benoit. Punk Black. Taja. Nicholle. 10 December 2018. 25 September 2019.
  14. Web site: Black-owned goth brand collaborates with alternative model Yasmin Benoit for latest lookbook. Afropunk. 7 March 2018. 23 September 2019.
  15. Web site: Why I Hate my BBC Asexuality Documentary. Lapp the Brand. Yasmin. Benoit. 20 January 2019. 25 September 2019.
  16. Web site: Emi Salida Stars in Sky News Asexuality Documentary. TenEighty. Beth. Jefferies. 5 February 2019. 23 September 2019.
  17. Web site: Life without sex - what is asexuality?. Sky News. YouTube. 2 February 2019. 25 September 2019.
  18. Web site: Benoit . Jasmine . This Is What Asexuality Looks Like . Qwear Fashion.
  19. Web site: This asexual model is launching London's first asexual club for Pride. Gay Star News. Stefania. Sarrubba. 23 June 2019. 25 September 2019.
  20. Web site: I'm proud to announce that I'm officially on the Board of Directors of AVEN (@asexuality)! It's an honour to join forces with such an incredible organization. It's a pretty great way to start #BlackHistoryMonth too!. Yasmin Benoit. Twitter. 2 October 2019. 17 February 2020.
  21. Web site: “Attitude” Becomes First UK Magazine Featuring an asexual Woman on Cover. South Florida Gay News. Cameren. Boatner. 12 December 2019. 17 February 2020.
  22. Attitude becomes first magazine to put an asexual woman on the cover. Independent. Sophie. Gallagher. 6 December 2019. 17 February 2020.
  23. Web site: Meet the Activist Debunking Asexuality Stereotypes. Paper Magazine. 22 November 2019. 17 February 2020.
  24. Web site: Benoit . Yasmin . About . Yasmin Benoit.
  25. Web site: 2022-04-05 . Stonewall x Yasmin Benoit Ace Project . 2022-08-06 . Stonewall . en.
  26. Web site: Baska . Maggie . 2022-04-06 . Stonewall launches groundbreaking project to stamp out acephobia . 2022-08-06 . PinkNews .
  27. Web site: 2023-05-31 . Pride profile: I will be the first asexual grand marshal at NYC's Pride March . 2023-06-26 . The Independent . en.
  28. Web site: Monteil . Abby . 2023-10-02 . 'Sex Education' Asexuality Consultant Says Much of the Show's Ace Storyline Was Cut . 2023-10-02 . Them . en-US.
  29. Web site: Iftikhar . Asyia . 2023-10-02 . How Sex Education season 4 let down asexuals with the character of O . 2023-10-02 . PinkNews . en-US.
  30. Web site: An Interview With Yasmin Benoit & Clara Josefine. Aislin Magazine. 28 December 2018. 25 September 2019.
  31. Web site: James . Alastair . 2021-06-11 . The asexual activist dispelling myths around lack of sexual attraction . 2023-10-02 . Attitude . en-GB.
  32. Web site: Top 10 Online Influencers 2022 . 2023-10-02 . British LGBT Awards . 15 February 2022 . en-GB.
  33. Web site: Noyce . Eleanor . The Bank of London Rainbow Honours Crowns Yasmin Benoit, UK Black Pride and Mermaids . DIVA magazine.
  34. Web site: Benoit . Yasmin . “A Romantic Partner Won’t Complete Me, Because I Was Born Complete”: How Identifying As Asexual & Aromantic Brought Me True Freedom & Happiness . British Vogue . Condé Nast Publications . 23 June 2024 . 14 February 2021.
  35. I'm Asexual, And I'm A Lingerie Model. Here's How I Balance The Two.. HuffPost UK. Yasmin. Benoit. 11 August 2018. 23 September 2019.

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